Indoor Air Quality Risk Calculator
Takes 30 seconds. See what you're really breathing inside your Los Angeles home.
Enter your LA Zip Code
We use this to pull historical local smog and wildfire ash data.
What your score actually means
This calculator weighs the factors that most reliably predict how quickly a home's ductwork accumulates dust, allergens and moisture: the age of the property, whether pets live there, how long it has been since the system was last serviced, and where in Los Angeles County the home sits. None of those are guesses — they are the same things a technician asks about before quoting a job.
Low risk
Your system is likely in reasonable condition. A standard inspection every three to five years is usually enough, alongside regular filter changes.
Moderate risk
Enough factors are stacking up that accumulation is likely measurable. An inspection is worthwhile, particularly if anyone in the home has allergies or asthma.
High risk
Several compounding factors are present. A professional inspection is the sensible next step, and it is free — you will see photographs of your own ductwork either way.
Why these factors matter
Property age
Older homes frequently still run their original ductwork. Systems built decades ago were not designed around modern filtration expectations, and in Los Angeles a great deal of the housing stock predates those standards entirely. Pre-war properties may also have sealed or undocumented access points, which is why inspection comes before cleaning.
Pets in the home
Dander is light enough to stay airborne and fine enough to pass through standard filtration, so it settles inside the duct run rather than being captured. Homes with multiple animals accumulate noticeably faster than homes without.
Time since last service
This is the single strongest predictor. Accumulation is cumulative and does not self-correct, so a system that has never been cleaned holds everything it has ever circulated. If you do not know when it was last done, assume it has not been.
Where you live in LA County
Location changes the load. Coastal properties contend with salt air and marine layer humidity; San Fernando Valley homes run their systems far longer through the summer; foothill and canyon properties take on wildfire ash and brush dust. Two identical houses in different parts of the county will not accumulate at the same rate.
Common questions
- Is this a substitute for an inspection?
- No. It is a prioritisation tool. Only a physical inspection shows the actual condition of your ductwork, which is why we photograph it and show you.
- How often should air ducts be cleaned?
- For most Los Angeles homes, every three to five years is a reasonable interval. Pets, allergies, recent construction, wildfire exposure or a system that has never been cleaned all shorten it.
- Does duct cleaning help with allergies?
- It removes accumulated dust, dander and pollen from the system that circulates air through your home, which reduces what gets recirculated. It is one part of indoor air quality rather than a cure on its own.